Vertical tine tillage tandem frame and inter-related secondary tillage, planting and fertilizing machine

Abstract

A tillage machine includes a plurality of front tines and a plurality of rear tines rotatably secured to a frame which is pulled by a tractor in a direction of travel. The front tines are aligned with the rear tines along the direction of travel whereby the front tines penetrate the soil and create tine soil penetrations, and the rear tines enter the soil in the penetrations created by the front tines. Preferably, the front tines are also rotatably secured to the frame in a clockwise or counter-clockwise angle about a front pivot point. The rear tines are rotatably secured to the frame in a clockwise of counter-clockwise angle about a rear pivot point opposite the front tines angle. The front tines penetrate and fracture the soil in one direction and the rear tines enter the soil penetrations created by the front tines and fracture the soil in another direction.

1. A machine for tillage of soil fields, said tillage machine comprising:
 a frame adapted to travel in a direction of travel; 
 a plurality of front tines rotatably secured to said frame; 
 a plurality of rear tines rotatably secured to said frame, 
 said front tines being located in front of said rear tines along said direction of travel; and, 
 said front tines being aligned with said rear tines along said direction of travel whereby said front tines penetrate the soil and create tine soil penetrations and said rear tines enter the soil in the same penetrations which are created by said front tines. 
 
     
     
       2. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of front tines are rotatably secured to said frame in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise angle about a front pivot point relative to said direction of travel and said rear tines are rotatably secured to said frame in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise angle about a rear pivot point relative to said direction of travel and opposite said front tines angle, whereby said front tines penetrate and fracture the soil in one direction and said rear tines enter the soil penetrations created by the front tines and fracture the soil in another direction. 
     
     
       3. The tillage machine of  claim 2  wherein each of said tines includes a concave arcuate shaped entry edge terminating at a tine tip, whereby said tine tip first enters the soil when penetrating or entering the soil. 
     
     
       4. The tillage machine of  claim 3  wherein each of said tines include a convex arcuate shaped trailing edge. 
     
     
       5. The tillage machine of  claim 3  wherein said frame includes a front end adapted to be connected to and pulled by a tractor and further comprising a plurality of supporting wheels rotatably secured to and selectively supporting said frame. 
     
     
       6. The tillage machine of  claim 3  wherein each of said front and rear plurality of tines are laterally arranged in groups, each group of tines comprising three tines spaced radially 120° from each other, and wherein the tines of each laterally spaced group are spaced radially 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       7. The tillage machine of  claim 2  wherein each of said front and rear plurality of tines are laterally arranged in groups, each group of tines comprising three tines spaced radially 120° from each other, and wherein the tines of each laterally spaced group are spaced radially 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       8. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein:
 a plurality of said front tines are rotatably secured to said frame in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise angle about a front left pivot point relative to said direction of travel and defining front left tines; 
 a plurality of said front tines are rotatably secured to said frame in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise angle about a front right pivot point relative to said direction of travel and defining front right tines; 
 a plurality of said rear tines are rotatably secured to said frame in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise angle about a rear left pivot point relative to said direction of travel and defining rear left tines; 
 a plurality of said rear tines are rotatably secured to said frame in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise angle about a rear right pivot point relative to said direction of travel and defining rear right tines; and, 
 said front left tines angle being substantially the same as said rear right tines angle, said front right tines angle being substantially the same as said rear left tines angle and said front left and rear left angles are opposite said respective front right and rear right angles relative to said direction of travel, whereby said front tines penetrate and fracture the soil in one direction and said rear tines enter the soil penetrations created by the front tines and fracture the soil in another direction. 
 
     
     
       9. The tillage machine of  claim 8  wherein each of said tines includes a concave arcuate shaped entry edge terminating at a tine tip, whereby said tine tip first enters the soil when penetrating or entering the soil. 
     
     
       10. The tillage machine of  claim 9  wherein each of said tines include a convex arcuate shaped trailing edge. 
     
     
       11. The tillage machine of  claim 9  wherein said frame includes a front end adapted to be connected to and pulled by a tractor and further comprising a plurality of supporting wheels rotatably secured to and selectively supporting said frame. 
     
     
       12. The tillage machine of  claim 9  wherein each of said front and rear plurality of tines are laterally arranged in groups, each group of tines comprising three tines spaced radially 120° from each other, and wherein the tines of each laterally spaced group are spaced radially 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       13. The tillage machine of  claim 8  wherein each of said front and rear plurality of tines are laterally arranged in groups, each group of tines comprising three tines spaced radially 120° from each other, and wherein the tines of each laterally spaced group are spaced radially 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       14. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein each of said tines includes a concave arcuate shaped entry edge terminating at a tine tip, whereby said tine tip first enters the soil when penetrating or entering the soil. 
     
     
       15. The tillage machine of  claim 14  wherein each of said tines include a convex arcuate shaped trailing edge. 
     
     
       16. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein said frame includes a front end adapted to be connected to and pulled by a tractor and further comprising a plurality of supporting wheels rotatably secured to and selectively supporting said frame. 
     
     
       17. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein each of said front and rear plurality of tines are laterally arranged in groups, each group of tines comprising three tines spaced radially 120° from each other, and wherein the tines of each laterally spaced group are spaced radially 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       18. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein said front tines are secured on a front roller assembly which is pivotally secured to said frame about a front pivot point generally perpendicular to said direction of travel and said rear tines are secured on a rear roller assembly which is pivotally secured to said frame about a rear pivot point generally perpendicular to said direction of travel. 
     
     
       19. The tillage machine of  claim 18  wherein said front roller assembly is secured to a front swing arm, said front swing arm being pivotally secured to said frame about said front pivot point, and wherein said rear roller assembly is secured to a rear swing arm, said rear swing arm being pivotally secured to said frame about said rear pivot point. 
     
     
       20. The tillage machine of  claim 19  wherein said front and rear roller assemblies are secured to their respective front and rear swing arms with flexible brackets. 
     
     
       21. The tillage machine of  claim 19  wherein each said roller assembly comprises a plurality of groups of tines, each tine group spaced laterally along its roller assembly, and wherein each said group of tines comprises three tines spaced 120° from each other around the roller assembly, and wherein the tines of each group spaced laterally along its roller assembly are spaced 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       22. The tillage machine of  claim 19  further comprising a linkage between said front swing arm and said rear swing arm whereby a pivot angle of said front swing arm and said rear swing arm are maintained relative to said direction of travel. 
     
     
       23. The tillage machine of  claim 18  wherein said frame includes a front end adapted to be connected to and pulled by a tractor and further comprising a plurality of supporting wheels rotatably secured to and selectively supporting said frame. 
     
     
       24. The tillage machine of  claim 18  wherein each said roller assembly comprises a plurality of groups of tines, each tine group spaced laterally along its roller assembly, and wherein each said group of tines comprises three tines spaced 120° from each other around the roller assembly, and wherein the tines of each group spaced laterally along its roller assembly are spaced 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       25. The tillage machine of  claim 18  wherein said front roller assembly and said rear roller assembly are both detachably attachable to said frame and interchangeable with each other, whereby higher wearing front tines may be exchanged with lower wearing rear tines by exchanging said front and rear roller assemblies. 
     
     
       26. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein:
 a plurality of said front tines are secured on a front left roller assembly which is pivotally secured to said frame about a front left pivot point generally perpendicular to said direction of travel; 
 a plurality of said front tines are secured on a front right roller assembly which is pivotally secured to said frame about a front right pivot point generally perpendicular to said direction of travel; 
 a plurality of said rear tines are secured on a rear left roller assembly which is pivotally secured to said frame about a rear left pivot point generally perpendicular to said direction of travel; and, 
 a plurality of said rear tines are secured on a rear right roller assembly which is pivotally secured to said frame about a rear right pivot point generally perpendicular to said direction of travel. 
 
     
     
       27. The tillage machine of  claim 26  wherein:
 said front left roller assembly is secured to a front left swing arm, said front left swing arm being pivotally secured to said frame about said front left pivot point; 
 said front right roller assembly is secured to a front right swing arm, said front right swing arm being pivotally secured to said frame about said front right pivot point; 
 said rear left roller assembly is secured to a rear left swing arm, said rear left swing arm being pivotally secured to said frame about said rear left pivot point; and, 
 said rear right roller assembly is secured to a rear right swing arm, said rear right swing arm being pivotally secured to said frame about said rear right pivot point. 
 
     
     
       28. The tillage machine of  claim 27  wherein said front and rear roller assemblies are secured to their respective front and rear swing arms with flexible brackets. 
     
     
       29. The tillage machine of  claim 27  wherein each said roller assembly comprises a plurality of groups of tines, each tine group spaced laterally along its roller assembly, and wherein each said group of tines comprises three tines spaced 120° from each other around the roller assembly, and wherein the tines of each group spaced laterally along its roller assembly are spaced 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       30. The tillage machine of  claim 27  further comprising a left linkage between said front left swing arm and said rear left swing arm whereby a pivot angle of said front left swing arm and said rear left swing arm are maintained relative to said direction of travel, and a right linkage between said front right swing arm and said rear right swing arm, whereby a pivot angle of said front right swing arm and said rear right swing arm are maintained relative to said direction of travel. 
     
     
       31. The tillage machine of  claim 26  wherein said frame includes a front end adapted to be connected to and pulled by a tractor and further comprising a plurality of supporting wheels rotatably secured to and selectively supporting said frame. 
     
     
       32. The tillage machine of  claim 26  wherein each said roller assembly comprises a plurality of groups of tines, each tine group spaced laterally along its roller assembly, and wherein each said group of tines comprises three tines spaced 120° from each other around the roller assembly, and wherein the tines of each group spaced laterally along its roller assembly are spaced 40° degrees from the tines of the laterally adjacent group. 
     
     
       33. The tillage machine of  claim 26  wherein each of said roller assemblies are detachably attachable to said frame, and wherein said front left roller assembly is interchangeable with said rear left roller assembly and said front right roller assembly is interchangeable with said rear right roller assembly, whereby higher wearing front tines may be exchanged with lower wearing rear tines by exchanging said front and rear roller assemblies. 
     
     
       34. The tillage machine of  claim 26  wherein said roller assemblies are pivotable forming double offset configuration. 
     
     
       35. The tillage machine of  claim 26  wherein said roller assemblies are pivotable forming diamond offset configuration. 
     
     
       36. The tillage machine of  claim 16  wherein said wheels are each rotatably secured to a wheel lever assembly, said wheel lever assemblies being pivotally secured to said frame whereby said wheels are selectively pivotable for supporting said frame. 
     
     
       37. The tillage machine of  claim 36  wherein each said wheel lever assembly is selectively moveably generally perpendicular to said direction of travel whereby a wheel spacing distance between said wheels is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
       38. The tillage machine of  claim 1  wherein said front tines are secured on a front roller assembly and said rear tines are secured on a rear roller assembly, and wherein one of said front or rear roller assembly extends at clockwise angle about a pivot point and relative to said direction of travel and said other of said front or rear roller assemblies extends at a counter-clockwise angle about another pivot point and relative to said direction of travel, whereby said front tines penetrate and fracture the soil in one direction and said rear tines enter the soil penetrations created by the front tines and fracture the soil in another direction. 
     
     
       39. The tillage machine of  claim 1  further comprising a rotary harrow secured to said frame behind said plurality of rear tines relative to said direction of travel. 
     
     
       40. The tillage machine of  claim 39  wherein said rotary harrow is selectively pivotable about a pivot point and moveable in and out of engagement with the soil.